2019
-
Comparing The Democrats’ Iowa Caucus Event Styles
It’s a little under a year out from the Iowa Caucus, and presidential candidates are already inundating the state to make their pitch to local activists. What’s particularly fascinating from these initial visits is that the Democrats’ campaigning and event styles are just as diverse as the field itself. You can already start to see…
-
Cory Booker’s Unity Message Will Test Whether Twitter Is Wrong
For a man who drew national fame in part because of his clever use of social media while mayor of Newark, Cory Booker’s message for his 2020 bid most certainly does not match the mood of today’s political Twitter. In his first journey to Iowa after his presidential campaign announcement, Booker stuck to an optimistic…
-
The Other Way That Pete Buttigieg Stood Out In Iowa
Even in an incredibly crowded 2020 field, there’s plenty of ways that Pete Buttigieg, mayor of a mid-sized Midwestern city, stands out: he’s young, gay, and an Afghanistan War veteran. But his first appearances in Iowa after his presidential campaign announcement were noteworthy in a much more simple way: how bluntly and honestly he answered…
-
Ep79: Early Relationship Building In The Iowa Caucus
The Iowa Starting Line Podcast host Pat Rynard is joined by Representative Jennifer Konfrst to talk early relationship building and outreach from the presidential candidates, as well what’s happening at the Statehouse this week.
-
How To Win Polk County (Part 4)
Sean Bagniewski was elected as one of the youngest chairs in the history of the Polk County Democratic Party in March of 2017. As his first term comes to a close, he authored this series of four articles for Iowa Starting Line on what has worked well in Iowa’s largest county party, home to almost…
-
Iowa Republicans Take Aim At Loosening Even More Gun Laws
This week’s Moral Monday at the Capitol focused on several proposed Republican gun bills as well as the consequences of the ones they passed in 2017. The discussion was led by Representative Tim Kacena (D-Sioux City) and Scott Peterson, Chair of Iowans for Gun Safety. Over a dozen Democratic legislators attended and participated in the…
-
How To Win Polk County (Part 3)
Sean Bagniewski was elected as one of the youngest chairs in the history of the Polk County Democratic Party in March of 2017. As his first term comes to a close, he authored this series of four articles for Iowa Starting Line on what has worked well in Iowa’s largest county party, home to almost…
-
Kim Reynolds Reverses Course From Branstad Voting Rights Stance
Faithful readers of this space know I have not been shy about disagreeing with Gov. Kim Reynolds’ positions on a variety of issues. But I am here today not to criticize our governor but to praise her — for her courage that is both political and personal. Politically, Reynolds risks offending some of her staunch…
-
Ep78: We’re Back! David Yepsen Caucus Talk & Sherrod Brown Interview
The Iowa Starting Line Podcast is back! Pat Rynard sits down with Iowa Press Moderator David Yepsen to discuss the early stages of the Iowa Caucus, and we interview Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown during his first big trip out to Iowa.
-
Steve King Brings Some Friends To The State Of The Union
Congressman Steve King announced that he would bring one half of the far-right YouTube star duo Diamond And Silk to the State Of The Union as his honored guest. Each member of Congress gets one ticket to give out to the balcony seats for the President’s address on Tuesday evening. In a tweet, King said…
